DADto4

Long story, The short version is too much beer,too young,and way too anxious on the hook set! Yes it was an act of stupidity on our part , and now that I am 12 years or so older I would probably fair well with a canoe.My way of thinking is if you can buy a canoe brand new for close to the same $ as a new or newer jon boat, with all a jb has to offer why not do it.Chances are you will out grow whatever you buy. P.S. By the way it was a 14' alum. bought from a nearby church hauled around by means of a chevy luv truck.But boy did we have fun that summer!

I respect your opinion ArcticCat500 after all it is yours and that is what this forum is about,,,opinions!.With that said I stand behind mine. 8-)

Nice rides to all.I hope that by the time I get mine this thread comes around again. My old jon boat came back to me after 5 years of a friend using it. I think with alot of TLC she will be ready for another 5 or 10. For now this will be "MY RIDE" Before and after!

x2 I also went over,only we lost the battery for T.M. My buddy was,,,, how do you say.......P'D OFF! CANOES=UNSTABLE AT ANY LENGTH OR WIDTH.

Do you have any creeks or other moving water that is near to home?In Indiana when the lake temps rise or the watersports come around, the only solitude we can find is in the creeks and rivers. Moving water stays cooler and you don't have many if any "leisure" boaters! Just a thought -John

Although it is really neat, and a nice experiment......I am wondering from what store did you buy your pet! My pet store doesn't carry bass!

Not that I recall but I do have 3 questions. 1.Was it at night? 2.Were they females? 3.Were they keepers! ;D Sorry but I just couldn't resist

Absolutely try black spinners with big colorado blades.Also try Heddon torpedos and crazy crawlers

If you have $300 to spend your options are endless. 8-) If your looking for smooth and reliable try a shimano Saros $130, or a Diawa Sol $200 as for a rod.Well rods are like shoes buy what fits your needs and feel.Good luck and happy shopping.

The "Viper"rod and reel combo I bought for my 12 year old 1 yr ago is a BPS and it has stayed as smooth as my Shimano's and Diawa's for sure.That is my only experience with their reels,as for their rods,I own 9 of the IM8 series very nice indeed.

Absolutely beautiful finishes,I want some!!!!! Especially the second one down

When your not flat broke,bee moths and crickets,and drift worms. When you have 4 kids bills and not much $ coming in small pcs. of raw bacon! Don't scough until you try it! It works very, very well

After reading all sugg.The boys and I went shopping.We ended up coming home with Strike King bitsy tubes in colors like green pumpkin,pum.green flake,and watermelon pump.craw..We also armed ourselves with assorted colors of Gitzit brand spinners(the youngest found them at walmart on clearance for.50 ea.)THAT CHILD IS THE BAIT MONKEY!) Friday evening we tried out our arsenal at the inlaws pond.Things were going good until my three year old daughter started killing big gills on bacon and bobber.We then, like all fisherman, followed her with our own bacon and bobber :-? When we arrived at the creek Saturday,it was swollen and dingy from the recent rains.This must have been a textbook situation because we immediately started catching smallies 10 to 14".This time we fished more of the slower and deeper water,Yes I did catch 2 that were 16/17"(elbow to finger tip). Now I know they are there ;D We are finally on the right track,Thanks to all -John

Welcome to the boards Great to have ya around.

I fish with soft plastics alot.When I introduced my boys to worms and jigs, they, like I was at first, had no idea what to do or why to do it. That is when I took them to the neighbors pool tied on a worm and jig and showed them how diff. setups and lures react to subtle movements of the rod or line....Once they understood by site... their confidence was up and we were at Dicks buying their own.Now they love 'em too Fishing is part of catching tie on the least confident worm or jig you have, throw it at all the weeds and stumps you can find, work it, when you get bit remember what got you bit and build from there. Good luck -John

I have had some succes with them in the past.That particular lure has to be ripped down quickly then retrieved at a snails pace, it has very good action at slower speeds,and has produced for me many times.Although it is not a primary bait for me it does, like all lures have it's time in the water.I generally like to throw the shad color early spring along weed edges.

War Eagle&Terminator...YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR Oh yeah if you want to buy the ones from Walmart that's ok but they will definitely need to be fine tuned and sprayed heavily with some scent

Mine has to be a MANNS 8" black grape worm Texas rigged with a pegged 3/8 oz BPS sinker.Simple and reliable

Welcome Jim, I'm looking forward to learning more from you!

Welcome to the forum Pieman

I thank you all for the input,The boys and I have planned to go again this saturday,BUT first we will make a special "trip" to the local tackle shop to buy the needed supplies (you know the boys gotta have 'em too!) I'll post back and let ya know how it goes. Until then -John

I have lived in Indiana my whole life,fished since I was a tot on Dads boat,And have to say my top 5 are 1.Monroe-spring,fall 2.Raccoon-summer evening topwater=KILLER 3.Cataract-great camping,and lots of big bluegill 4.Glenn Flint-all year 5.Turtle Creek-winter(this is a cooling lake for Merom generating station,they grow all year long) If you search the INDNR site it will give maps to all. These are just a few i frequent.

My vote goes out to Bill Dance. Heck my first artificial lure I ever bought with my own money as a kid was a "Dancing Eel"....Anyone still have one? I know I do!! Does anyone remember the short lived era of Fish Fisburne, that guy had an episode where he put hooks on a golfball and caught fish?? real or not? you decide

I also have found them to roam at night sometimes 20 yards from where they usually are.My night choices are 3/4 black spinnerbait with a single #6 colorado blade,and a 1/2 ounce black and blue Top Prop both fished slow...I love night fishing

I just joined a few days ago,and boy is this a cool deal I am a Dad to four children that love to fish. This is the first and only forum for me....still learning how to navigate a computer!!! Just wanted to say hi and ask how to get the "PM" and "Add To Buddy List" buttons to appear on my posts.Am I forgetting something in my profile ? Thanks, -John